Sound of Music's Grande Festival Parade a big part of Burlington free musical events

Thousands lined the streets for the Grande Festival Parade -- the parade that started what has become the Sound of Music Festival.

Featuring marching bands, floats and costumed characters, the parade wound its way from Central Park to Central High School on Saturday morning.

As always, the award-winning Burlington Teen Tour Band was the first marching band in the parade with the Junior Redcoats also taking part in what has become a full weekend of performances at Canada's largest free music festival along the waterfront at Spencer Smith Park.

Sound of Music Festival began over four decades ago as a showcase of marching bands evolving into a mega musical event that also includes a carnival and vendors and in recent years a downtown streetfest, attracting thousands from Burlington and beyond to the annual Father's Day weekend event.